Shoe



S. J. MEYER June 11, 1935.

SHOE

Filed July '18, 1934 nul'nnlinnolfiila4.1141115511111415! WITNESSES UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Patented June 11,

SHOE

Samuel J. Meyer, Brooklyn, N; Y. Application July 18, 1934, Serial No. 735,871

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in shoes and has particular relation to the provision of a reinforcing and supporting member in that portion of the quarter of ashoe which engages the inner side of the foot.

In low shoes particularly womens pumps and Oxfords, the opening at the top of the shoe must be sufficiently large to permit the insertion of the foot of the wearer and, consequently, the top of the shoe seldom fits properly the top of the foot of the wearer, the result being that the foot slides back and forth in the shoe causing annoyance to the wearer and irritation and in-' Furthermore, shoes of flammation to the foot. I this type being of light, construction easily lose their shape and seldom give the proper support to the feet of the wearer.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a shoe having an improved construction which will lend aid and support to the foot and particularly to the arch of the wearer.

A further object is to provide in a shoe of the above character a device which will strengthen and reinforce the shoe adjacent the quarter and which aids in preserving the shape of the shoe.

Another object is to provide a low shoe such as a pump having no lacing or other fastening means, so constructed that it may be easily applied to the foot of the wearer, but which, nevertheless, when applied will fit, snugly, will not slide on the foot, and will lend support to the foot.

In the present invention these results are accomplished by providing a reinforcing or supporting member connected between the shank portion of the sole and the upper part of the quarter on that side of the shoe which engages the inside of the foot.

For a fuller understanding of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view in the direction of the arrows on the line 2-2 ofFig, 1;

Fig. 3 is a, plan view of a portion of a shoe lining showing one way in which a reinforcing member made in accordance with the present invention may be secured to the quarter of the shoe; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

In the accompanying drawing a low shoe of the pump style is illustrated, but it is to be understood that the invention may also be used. in other types of shoes. The pump illustrated is of turned constructionalthough it is to be understood that shoes of other construction may be employed, and com- 5 prises generally an upper portion ID, a sole. H, and a heel [2. The upper is composed of suitable material, such as the layer of leather, I3, and may: be formed in one piece or several pieces secured together in any desired manner. A lining 14 may 10 be secured, as by cement or stitches, to the inside of the upper of the shoe. The lining also may be made of leather, or suitable fabric suchascanvas if desired, and may cover the entire. inside of the upper portions of the shoeor, as 15 illustrated, may be composed of two sections I5 which extend from the rear of the shoe around the sides and meet at a pointin front of the opening on the top of the shoe. The lining on one side of the shoe may be continued completely across the sole of the shoe as shown in Fig; '2.

A suitable counter 16 of conventional construction, formed of relatively stiff material, such as heavy leather, is provided between the lining and the outer surface l3 of the upper and it extends around the back and through the quarters of the shoe. The counter I6 and portion l3 of the upper are secured to the sole of the shoe i1, formed of a piece of heavy leather, by means of stitches l8 extending through the upper, the counter, and a portion of the sole as far as the notches I9 in the manner in which turned shoes are usually formed.

Extending over and suitably secured to the shank portion of the sole is a shank-reinforcing strip 20 shaped so as toprovide a suitable shank and preferably formed of heavy leather, and which may have affixed to its lower surface a steel strip (not shown) to serve as a reinforcement. The heel i2 is a conventional wooden heel secured to the sole by cement and nails and having a suitable covering material, preferably similar to that forming the upper, secured around it, and a top lift 2i fastened to the bottom thereof. A portion of the sole adjacent the rear of the shoe is split from the remaining portion of the sole forming a strip or layer 22 which is extended downwardly over and secured to the breastlof the heel. A suitable pad or lining 30 may also be placed inside the shoe over the sole.

In the quarter of the shoe on that side which engages the inner side of the foot and extending between the shank portion of the sole and the upper part of the quarter, is a reinforcing and supporting member 23. This member preferably is composed of a strip of relatively stiff leather 24; stifier and heavier than the material from which the lining M of the outer surface I3 of the upper portion of the shoe is made and preferably having skived edges. If desired, a facing 25, preferably made of the same material as the lining I4, is secured over the outer surface of the strip 24.

The lower edge of the reinforcing member is suitably secured to the shank portion of the sole I1 of the shoe,- as by the stitches I8, in the same manner as the counter and upper pcitipn Q3 secured, or if desired it may be cmen ed thereto.

v The lower portion of the member 23 is relatively broad and shaped to conform with the shank and extends throughout the shank section from approximately the heel of the shoe to the ball of" member connected between the shank portion of the foot, and it tapers towards the top, the taper of the upper half preferably being greater than the taper of the lower halfas sli'o'wni end to a point near the top of the quarter of the shoe and this may be aceom nsheab' rdmmg' a slit, as at 26, in the liningfl-and extending the upper edge of the member through the slit and suitably securing it to the'l ininga's by thes'titches The member 23 is shaped and. fitted inthe shoe so as to conform generally with the shape of the 1 quarter.

The length of. the member 23 between the point where it is secured to the shank portion of the sole and the point where it is secured to the upper part of the quartenis preferably slightly shorter 7 than the length of. the lining l4 and the portion l3; forming the quarter between the same points so that the member 23will be relatively taut and the quarter of the shoe will be relatively loose in relationtthereto.

When a shoeembodying such a reinforcing and supporting member is placed'o'n the foot, pressure is exerted on the, member 23 by the foot of the wearer in the direction of the arrow 28 in Fig. 2

member is preferably secured adjacent its, upper and the upper part of the quarter will be drawn inwardly by the member 23 in the direction of the arrow 29, thus causing the shoe to fit snugly" around the upper portion of the foot. Furthermore, the member 23 will support the foot, particularly the arch, and will strengthen and reinforce the shoe and thereby help preserve its proper shape.

Thus with the construction described and illustrated herein a low shoe is provided which will support the foot of. the wearer, which will retain its proper shape even for long periods, and which will properly fit and conform to wearer.

I claim:

1. In a low shoe, a reinforcing'and supporting the sole of the shoe and the upper part of the quarter of the shoe on the inside of the shoe and on that side which engages the inner side of the foot, said member being relatively broad at its point of connection with the sole and ex tendi-ng along the shank substantially from the heel to the ball of the foot and tapering towards the top, the degree of said taper increasing progressively to a point adjacent the top of said member and being relatively shorter between the points where it connects to the shoe than the quarter of the shoe between the same two points.

2. In a shoe of the pump style, a reinforcing and supporting member connected between the shank portion of the sole of the shoe and the upper part of the quarter of the shoe on the inside of the shoe and on that side which engages the inner side of thefoot, said member being formed of relatively stiff material beingrelatively broad at its point of connectionwith the sole and extending along the shank sub stantially from the heel to the ball ofthe foot and tapering towards the top andbeing' relatively' shorter between the points where it connects to the shoe than the quarter of the shoe between the same two points.

SAMUEL J. MEYER;

the foot of the 

